BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A Birmingham neighborhood forum set Friday is designed to bring the newsmakers directly to the people, from Birmingham's school superintendent and state superintendent to the head of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

Citizens have questions, and Friday's forum is the place where they can hear answers, said Councilwoman Lashunda Scales, organizer of Friday's eastern area neighborhood summit.

"Citizens are doing what they believe is in their best interest, and that is to civilly fight for the issues that directly concern them when they believe that they have been disenfranchised by their government, elected leaders and the local establishment," Scales said. "This program's intent is to have an 'unscripted' call to action meeting to address citizen concerns that matter most."